Bold Celtics Predictions for Top 2024 NBA Offseason Signings, Trades
The Boston Celtics spent all of the 2023-24 NBA season proving they have the league's best roster.
That made their 2024 offseason perhaps the easiest to navigate.
All they did was bought back into that roster at every opportunity. They not only retained several of the players they sent to free agency, they also spent big to keep some of their most prominent players away from future free-agency ventures.
So, we're looking in-house, then, while making a batch of bold predictions regarding the most notable players who ironed out new agreements with the Celtics this summer.
Sam Hauser Posts Best Marks for 3s and 3-Point Percentage
1 of 3
The Celtics didn't need to give Sam Hauser an extension this summer, but the fact they did—at a rate of $45 million over the next four years, no less—proves they view the 6'8" sharpshooter as a pivotal part of their plans.
Don't be surprised if he turns around and rewards their faith with the strongest shooting season of his career.
It would take one heck of an effort to get there, by the way. His career-high three-point percentage is all the way up at 43.2. And his personal-best 197 triples this past season were 24th-most in the league.
He has the talent to pool this off, though. Boston's fully loaded roster gives him optimal spacing to work with, and his ultra-reliable three-point stroke does the rest. For all of the surprises he has delivered to this point, he just might keep defying the odds going forward.
Derrick White Is an All-Star
2 of 3
Derrick White won't soon forget the year 2024. That's when he first became an NBA champion and an Olympic gold medalist, not to mention the recipient of a four-year, $125.9 million contract extension.
One box he didn't check, though, was earning his first All-Star nod. He presented quite the compelling case, though.
His subtle-yet-substantial contributions produced a stat line that perfectly captured his across-the-board brilliance. This was true jack-of-all-trades mastery, as White became just the 40th player in NBA history to average at least 15 points, five assists, four rebounds, one steal and one block, per StatHead Basketball. In addition, he earned his second consecutive All-Defensive second team selection.
Some might call him a star role player, but his impact treats him more as a two-way star. If it's obvious by the All-Star break Boston once again boasts basketball's best roster by a decent margin, the Celtics could easily have three All-Stars with White joining Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown at the midseason festivities.
Jayson Tatum Earns MVP Honors
3 of 3
As Jaylen Brown did last summer, Jayson Tatum spent his offseason inking what is, for now, the richest contract in NBA history: a massive five-year, $314 million deal.
Brown followed his historic pact by earning Eastern Conference finals MVP and Finals MVP honors. Perhaps Tatum will follow his by finally capturing the regular-season MVP crown.
Tatum has been a top-six finisher in MVP voting each of the past three seasons. He'll remain in that discussion at least as long as he holds the best-player-on-the-best-team distinction. And there's no obvious reason to think anyone will challenge his throne in Boston, or that the Shamrocks will lose their advantage on the rest of the league.
Tatum will never have the best counting numbers of the candidate—his situation and skillset wouldn't support that—but if can maintain his volume (26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists this past season) while nudging his efficiency just a smidge (47.1/37.6/83.3), he could have a realistic shot at MVP. If his numbers are within striking distance of the other top candidates while his team success puts theirs to shame, he could sway enough voters to his side to take home the hardware.
.png?w=600 "2027 NFL Mock Draft 🔮")
.jpg?w=600 "Pickens' Trade Ultimatum")